The curtain closed on the eight-day First Tracks Cumberland Fair harness racing meet on Sunday (Oct. 3) with a large crowd and a trifecta of prosperous late closer finals, as well as several divisions of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC).
Walter Case Jr. gave And Up We Go a perfect steer to capture the $12,000 Casco Bay Ford Trotting Series final in 2:00.1. Trained and co-owned by Ralph D’Amelio II with William Fisher, the five-year-old daughter of And Away We Go picked up her fourth win of the season. Case, the winner of 11,058 races in his career, sat in the two-hole behind favourite Eternal Flame and hit pay dirt after taking command down the home stretch. And Up We Go paid $5.40 to win. RTs Warrier finished third.
Electrify put on a shocking performance, winning the $10,000 Portland Regency Pacing Series final by 8-1/2 lengths in 1:57. Driven by Aaron Hall for trainer Eric Bickmore and owner Ellie Grady, the 11-year-old son of Western Ideal notched the 30th win of his career and completed a Sunday three-bagger for Hall, which included the late double. Aint No Mo finished second and Invictus Hanover was third. Electrify paid $4.20 to win.
Bettor Because A, driven by Benson Merrill, took the $8,000 Pine Ridge Acres Pacing Series final in 1:58.1. Trained by Karl Butterfield for owner Elite Harness Racing, the six-year-old Bettors Delight mare paid $20 to win.
The first of two divisions of the Maine Amateur Driving Club saw club president Joe Burke capture his first win of the circuit aboard 13-1 longshot Meetmeatthedance in 2:00.2. The lion’s share of the $3,600 first division purse also went to Joe Burke as he also owns the five-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance, who is trained by Robert Marston. Meetmeatthedance paid $28 to win. Second-place went to Bettorific and driver Adam Gray, resulting in a $256.70 exacta coupled with the winner. Favourite See You Friday (David Sawyer) finished third.
The second $3,200 MADC division went to Esteemed Members and Alex Richardson, who won by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:59.4 after being parked every step of the way. Trained by Mark Harris for owner Gayle Harris, the 11-year-old Western Terror mare has been second in her last two MADC outings, both with different pilots. Esteemed Members paid $7.80 to win. Saratoga Liz (Derek Howes) finished second and Tricia Star (Ryan Hall) was third.
The Maine Amateur Driving Club fair circuit was generously sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.
Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for the winter meeting on November 3, with racing through December 31, 2021. Post time is 11 a.m.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)